Which all maturing Time must bring to light,

559

While he, like Heav'n, does each day's labour bless."

CXLI.

Heav'n ended not the first or second day,

Yet each was perfect to the work design'd;

God and kings' work, when they their works survey, A passive aptness in all subjects find.

CXLII.

In burden'd vessels, first with speedy care,
His plenteous stores do season'd timber send ;
Thither the brawny carpenters repair,

And as the surgeons of maim'd ships attend.

CXLIII.

*570

With corn and canvas from rich Hamburgh sent,
His navies' molted wings he imps once more;
Tall Norway fir their masts in battle spent,
And English oaks sprung leaks and planks restore.

CXLIV.

All hands employ'd, the royal work grows warm:
Like lab'ring bees on a long summer's day,
Some sound the trumpet for the rest to swarm,
And some on bells of tasted lilies play,

CXLV.

With glewy wax some new foundations lay
Of virgin-combs, which from the roof are hung:
Some arm'd within doors upon duty stay,

Or tend the sick, or educate the young.

Fervet opus." The same similitude in Virgil.
G

580

CXLVI

So here some pick out bullets from the sides,
Some drive old okum thro' each seam and rift :
Their left hand does the caulking iron guide,
The rattling mallet with the right they lift.

-CXLVII.

With boiling pitch another near at hand

(From friendly Sweden brought) the seams instops; Which, well paid o'er, the salt sea waves withstand, And shakes them from the rising beak in drops.

CXLVIII

Some the gall'd ropes with dauby marling bind,
Or searcloth masts with strong tarpauling coats:
To try new shrouds one mounts into the wind,
And one below their ease or stiffness notes.

CXLIX.

Our careful Monarch stands in person by,
His new-cast cannons' firmness to explore;
The strength of big-corn'd powder loves to try,
And ball and cartridge sorts for ev'ry bore."

CL.

Each day brings fresh supplies of arms and men,
And ships which all last winter were abroad;
And such as fitted since the fight had been,
Or new from stocks were fall'n into the road.

CLI.

The goodly London in her gallant trim,
The Phoenix, daughter of the vanish'd old,

590

Goo

Like a rich bride does to the ocean swim,
And on her shadow rides in floating gold.

CLII.

Her flag aloft spread ruffling to the wind,

And sanguine streamers seem the flood to fire:
The weaver, charm'd with what his loom design'd,?
Goes on to sea, and knows not to retire.

CLIII.

With roomy decks, her guns of mighty strength,
Whose low-laid mouths each mounting billow laves;
Deep in her draught and warlike in her length,
She seems a sea-wasp flying on the waves.

CLIV

This martial present, piously design'd,
The loyal City gave their best-lov'd King;
And with a bounty ample as the wind,
Built, fitted, and maintain'd, to aid him bring.

CLV.

By viewing Nature, Nature's handmaid, Art
Makes mighty things from small beginnings grow;
Thus fishes first to shipping did impart,

Their tail the rudder, and their head the prow.

CLVI,

Some log perhaps upon the waters swam,
An useless drift, which rudely cut within,
And hollow'd first a floating trough became,
And cross some riv❜let passage did begin.

611

620

CLVII.

In shipping such as this the Irish kern,

And untaught Indian, on the stream did glide,
Ere sharp keel'd boats to stem the flood did learn,
Or fin-like cars did spread from either side.

CLVIII.

Add but a sail, and Saturn so appear'd,
When from lost empire he to exile went,
And with the Golden Age to Tiber steer'd,
Where coin and commerce first he did invent.

CLIX.

630

Rude as their ships was navigation then,
No useful compass, or meridian known;
Coasting, they kept the land within their ken,
And knew no north but when the pole-star shone.

CLX.

Of all who since have us'd the open sea,

Than the bold English none more fame have won:
Beyond the year, and out of heav'n's high way t
They make discov'ries where they see no sun.

CLXI.

But what so long in vain, and yet unknown,
By poor mankind's benighted wit is sought,
Shall in this age to Britain first be shewn,
And hence be to admiring nations taught.

CLXII

The ebbs of tide, and their mysterious flow,
We as Art's elements shall understand,

+ Extra anni solisque vias.

640

Virg.

And as by line upon the ocean go,

Whose path shall be familiar as the land.

CLXIII.

Instructed ships shall sail to quick commerce,

By which remotest regions are ally'd:

Which makes one city of the universe,

Where some may gain, and all may be supply'd.

CXLIV.

Then we upon our globe's last verge shall go,
And view the ocean leaning on the sky;

From thence our rolling neighbours we shall know,
And on the lunar world securely pry.

CLXV.

This I foretel, from your auspicious care,
Who great in search of God and Nature grow;
Who best your wise Creator's praise declare,
Since best to praise his works is best to know.

CLXVI.

O truly royal! who behold the law

And rule of beings in your Maker's mind;
And thence, like limbics, rich ideas draw,
To fit the levell'd use of human kind.

CLXVII.

But first the toils of war we must endure,
And from th' injurious Dutch redeem the seas;
War makes the valiant of his right secure,
And gives up Fraud to be chastis'd with

ease.

650

660